Top 10 Things Parents Need to Know
about Testing in Maryland
Updated November 2014
Maryland implemented new, higher standards for student learning in all schools across the State in 2013.
The Maryland College and Career Ready Standards are based on the Common Core State Standards,
which have been adopted by Maryland and over 40 other states, and provide students with the relevant,
real world knowledge and skills needed for success in college and careers. In order to measure student
mastery of the new standards, this year Maryland will implement new statewide tests – the Partnership
for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments – which replace the current
statewide tests, the Maryland School Assessment (MSA). The PARCC tests in English 10 and Algebra will
replace the High School Assessments (HSAs) in those subjects this year, while the HSAs in Government and
Biology will continue to be administered. As we continue this transition to the PARCC assessments, the
Maryland State Department of Education has compiled a list of the 10 most important things parents need
to know about testing.
The Partnership for Assessment of
Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
tests in English language arts/literacy
and mathematics will be given each spring.
The new PARCC tests
are designed to be
given online, but paper
and pencil versions are available.
Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 will be given the new
assessments. These tests, aligned to the new standards,
mark a major step forward for education in Maryland.
Many classrooms will be
administering the PARCC tests on
computers or tablet devices, but
due to technology constraints felt
in some classrooms there will be
paper and pencil versions of the test
available at least through 2017.
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# 3
# 2
# The PARCC assessments
represent a complete reset of
Maryland’s state testing system.
Scores will not be comparable with the old
MSA tests in English language arts/literacy and
mathematics. The new tests look at different
content and use an entirely new grading system.
Data for the 2014-15 administration will represent
a new baseline for students and schools.
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# The PARCC assessments are a
better measure of student
learning.
These are not the typical multiple choice bubble
tests that have been prevalent for decades.
The new PARCC assessments will measure
problem solving skills that students need to be
successful in college and careers. The PARCC
tests will also provide timely information about
what individual students are learning and
whether or not they need extra help.
MarylandPublicSchools.org
The science MSA will continue to be
administered.
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# The computer-based MSA science exam is still
given to students in grades 5 and 8 in March or April,
as it has been administered for the past decade.
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# Scores on the first full administration
of the PARCC assessments will be
available by the end of 2015.
MarylandPublicSchools.org
Federal law requires that all
Maryland students take an annual
statewide assessment, or the State
risks losing millions of dollars in funding.
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# Under the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act (ESEA), all students in grades 3-8 must be
tested every year in reading and mathematics.
Annual testing is important to help ensure that all
students are making progress.
Information on student achievement in mathematics
and English language arts/literacy will be available
for students, parents, and educators; and will
include specific information about progress toward
college and career readiness.
Parents of students with
# disabilities will be contacted
by their child’s IEP or 504 team
to discuss allowable PARCC accessibility
features and accomodations.
The PARCC tests in Algebra and
# English 10 replace the Maryland
High School Assessments (HSAs)
in Algebra/Data Analysis and English 10.
Accessibility features and accommodations will
continue to be tailored for individual student
needs. There are some accommodations in
current IEP or 504 plans that:
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Students will not be required to pass the Algebra
and English 10 PARCC assessments in order
to receive a Maryland High School diploma until
2016-17. They must still take and pass the Biology
and Government HSAs to graduate, and must
complete and pass all their coursework.
For additional information
and resources, please visit:
PARCC Website:
www.parcconline.org
PARCC Practice Tests:
http://parcconline.org/practice-tests
Maryland State Department of Education:
www.marylandpublicschools.org
Maryland school, district, and state scores:
www.mdreportcard.org
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#
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• Are no longer allowable for the PARCC
assessments,
• Are included for all students as an
accessibility feature, or
• Have specific guidelines that IEP or 504 teams
must consider when selecting the
accommodation, such as text-to-speech,
calculator, scribe, or word prediction.
If you have additional questions about testing,
ask your child’s teacher or principal.
These educators and administrators will have the most accurate
information about what is happening in your child’s classroom
and school. They can also share ideas on what you can do at
home to help your child succeed.